Apple to kick off 4.7in and 5.5in iPhone production in July

Apple is set to crank up mass production of two larger iPhones in July, according to the latest on the mobile grapevine.

As previously rumoured (many times), Apple is set to roll out a 4.7in iPhone, and a 5.5in phablet on its heels, with Chinese suppliers due to start production next month – and that could mean next week – according to Bloomberg's sources.

One source also mentioned something we've heard before – that the phablet is more difficult to produce (due to complications with the larger display, according to previous reports), and will suffer from a lower production efficiency that could lead to lesser manufacturing volumes.

However, the 4.7in iPhone is expected to ship to stores in September, and the 5.5in version may still be available that same month, several sources said. That could mean that we see both models in September, the usual date for the iPhone to emerge – but stocks of the phablet could swiftly sell out.

While the new iPhone is certainly going to be bigger – much bigger in the case of the phablet – we saw an alleged snap of the 4.7in version sat next to a Galaxy S5 recently, which showed that the phone won't be nearly as wide as its Samsung rival. Thus it should still be more suited to one-handed use, or for owners with smaller hands.